Panerai Classic Regatta

Oct 2, 2013

By john snyder

Nellie, a 1903 Herreshoff.

Courtesy Panerai Classic Regatta

For the fourth consecutive year, Italian watchmaker Officine Panerai kicked off the North American Circuit of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge (PCYC) in Marblehead, Mass. The first regatta of the 2013 North American PCYC took place in Marblehead Aug. 10-11, attracting 60 classic boats of all sizes.

Courtesy Panerai Classic Regatta

Heronia, on the left, and Spartan, which took second place in the Classics Division.

The classics competed in the Corinthian regatta as the kick-off competition to the three-part North American Circuit, which includes Nantucket’s Opera House Cup and Newport’s Museum of Yachting Classic Yacht Regatta.

The Marblehead regatta began with 15 to 18 knots of breeze on Saturday and finished on Sunday with variable wind, which left some of the larger boats tacking for good air.

The course for both days followed the Massachusetts coastline south toward Nahant, Mass., for about five hours of racing.

Race participants included several recently restored classics including Quest, a 26-footer from Canada which won the Opera House Cup last year and took third place in the Classics Division in this regatta, behind Spartan and first place winner, Black Watch, helmed by co-owner Trevor Fetter, who took home the Panerai timepiece. First place winners in the remaining Panerai classes were:

Arion, a Herreshoff 42 from Jamestown, R.I., sailed by Steven Frary won the Classic GRP trophy.

Rival, a Taylor 38 owned by Dave Curtis, won the Spirit of Tradition trophy.

Kungsomen, helmed by Herbert Motley from Marblehead, won first place in International One Design category.

Walter Murphy, a longtime supporter and organizer of classic sailing in Marblehead was recognized with a wooden, hand-crafted Appreciation Award.